5.1 Identify reasons for: special dietary requirements, keeping and sharing coherent records with regard to special dietary requirements

Qualification: Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator
Unit: 1.1 Support healthy lifestyles for children through the provision of food and nutrition
Learning outcome: 5. Understand individuals’ dietary requirements and preferences.
Assessment criteria: 5.1 Identify reasons for: special dietary requirements, keeping and sharing coherent records with regard to special dietary requirements

• Special dietary requirements:
  • Medical conditions (e.g. children with diabetes will need regular food to maintain insulin levels, children with Coeliac disease will require a gluten-free diet)
  • Allergies and intolerances to certain foods can result in children becoming ill if they have contact with them
  • Religious, cultural and social requirements (e.g. Muslims may not eat pork, the child may be vegetarian etc.)
• Keeping & sharing coherent records:
  • To avoid serious incidents
  • To respect the wishes of children and their families
  • It is a requirement of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
  • Quantity of milk drank during bottle feeds must be recorded so that parents and carers know how much their child has had
  • Food intake should be shared with parents and carers during handover